My experience with citric acid in electrolyte supplements

[u/peaceful_pinecone]

Not sure how to flair this.
This is not medical advice, simply sharing a recent experience!

Recently I told my OBGYN about some bladder/urinary pain and discomfort. She told me about bladder pain syndrome and how the first step is to eliminate certain types of foods: spicy food, acidic food, coffee and alcohol. I don’t drink alcohol or coffee and don’t eat much spicy food so I thought it must be acid. Was thinking about how much acid is in my diet and I couldn’t really pinpoint a source.

Finally realized it’s because I’m constantly drinking flavored electrolytes supplements! Usually LMNT citrus. Had been doing one packet of citrus and one packet of plain in a big water bottle every single day for YEARS at this point.

Most flavored electrolytes use citric acid even if they aren’t citrus flavor. I’ve been only drinking unflavored electrolytes ever since and my bladder has been feeling MUCH better. Just wanted to post my finding to possibly help out a fellow POTSie. I wish I knew this earlier!!

Also: We talked about the possibility of a UTI and she tested me for one- it was negative

⭐️EDIT to say I had no idea about the RFK Jr thing. Good to know and I will be switching. Mostly using Redmond Relyte anyways since it’s cheaper and the only flavors I’ve found that I like are LMNT citrus and lemonade. Thank you to this subreddit for the info!!

This is not a substitution for medical care, please talk to your doctor if you’re having any of these symptoms. This is just for informational purposes. Thank you!

[u/Putrid-Ad2390]

Look into MCAS. Citric acid is often a huge trigger. And can effect the bladder. Mast cells are everywhere.

[u/peaceful_pinecone → u/Putrid-Ad2390]

Thank you, yes I’m a year into seeing a great allergist that is very knowledgeable about MCAS I will definitely tell her about this

[u/thetourist328 → u/peaceful_pinecone]

MCAS can cause interstitial cystitis, which describes your bladder symptoms. I dealt with bladder issues for years before getting diagnosed with MCAS and learning about the mast cell's involvement in IC. I now know that high histamine foods (coffee, spicy foods, tomatoes, citrus, etc) are a major trigger for it. MCAS causes almost all of my POTS symptoms, so getting that under control has been life changing.

Also, 99% of citric acid isn't even derived from citrus anymore and actually comes from mold grown on corn, but that's another story and it's a huge trigger for me as well.

[u/Putrid-Ad2390 → u/thetourist328]

Thank you for expounding on my comment. Good info. Thank you.

[u/Exploded_chocolate → u/thetourist328]

Question that you dont have to answer: with your IC did you ever have pain in your pee hole? Like a UTI? Or is it mostly issues with your bladder and pelvin area pain?

[u/thetourist328 → u/Exploded_chocolate]

Oh yeah, I always thought I was getting a UTI but my cultures were always negative. I also had an extremely overactive bladder, peeing at least every 1-2 hours, day and night. I was exhausted because I never got any sleep at night since I was waking up every hour to pee.

[u/GoblinTatties → u/peaceful_pinecone]

Also please bare in mind that sweetened electrolytes often contain sugar alcohols and a LOT of people are intolerant of these! Also known as polyols, like sorbitol, glycerol and xylotol etc. I cant eat prunes for this reason! Painful gas and diarrhea.

[u/shimmerangels → u/Putrid-Ad2390]

hmmmmm perhaps i should stop eating sour candy until it makes my tongue bleed

[u/peaceful_pinecone → u/shimmerangels]

Hahaha I’ve done that many times too 🤣 or making my cheek raw from war heads

[u/qrseek → u/Putrid-Ad2390]

Bruh what 😭 is it still ok to use as a rinse for my laundry if I have mcas? /r/laundry swears by the stuff

[u/Putrid-Ad2390 → u/qrseek]

If it’s doesn’t trigger you, you are good. Citric acid surprisingly doesn’t trigger me, and I’m very allergic to mold.

[u/qrseek → u/Putrid-Ad2390]

I don't think it triggers me, but it can be hard to figure out my more mild reactions. Like if I just generally feel unwell,  I don't know if that's from something I ate or from something i touched, or from PEM 🫩

[u/Putrid-Ad2390 → u/qrseek]

Maybe try doing an extra rinse cycle to make sure it’s out of the clothes. 🤷‍♀️

[u/raptoraboo]

I did not realize this was a thing, but I did recently switch from LMNT to SALTT due to cost and political reasons and noticed an improvement in bladder pain… Apparently SALTT is specifically formulated without citric acid. Their flavors are really good and a bit cheaper than LMNT, I would really recommend looking into that brand if they ship to your area!

[u/peaceful_pinecone → u/raptoraboo]

Thank you for this!! Will definitely look into them!

[u/NepenthiumPastille → u/peaceful_pinecone]

I personally love Venture Pal as well as Liquid Labs Force Factor Rapid Hydration.

[u/Hellocatdog → u/raptoraboo]

I second this! And they have a massive amount of sodium in them, similar to LMNT. Their flavors are yummy:)

[u/EnvironmentOk2700]

Citric acid irritates my Interstitial Cystitis too. And it's in so many things!

[u/peaceful_pinecone → u/[deleted]]

Yesss it’s burning my insides!

[u/deer_spedr]

Salt pills are incredibly cheap and have no additives, no need for flavors either.

Then if you want potassium add some half salt/nu salt to your regular salt.

[u/Memory_Of_A_Slygar]

I never found citric acid annoying for my bladder but it makes my whole body ache, especially my joints. And I get such weird inflammation, like my hands turn into sausages over night. I have to avoid it entirely. I'm not diagnosed with MCAS but I think i have it. I do know that I'm allergic to severally types of mold so makes sense my body doesn't like it.

[u/lolajuniper]

Interesting! My fav is liquid iv and it doesn't seem to affect my bladder issues either way BUT I've recently realised that if I have a couple of those cystitis treatment sachets you mix into water it almost completely gets rid of the problem (frequency, urgency, and a sort of spasmy feeling) for a few hours until it 'wears off'. No idea why and nothing else I've ever tried has come close to treating it so effectively 🤷🏻‍♀️

[u/tommangan7]

I think citric acid might be aggravating acid reflux and chest gas for me.

I'm in the UK and just not sure what a reasonable electrolyte mix is that doesn't have citric acid as often the main ingredient.

I use the effervescent tablets (which requires the acid) due to them being much easier for me to prepare. Would love any UK recommendations for anything that doesn't use it though, powder included.

[u/stiina22 → u/tommangan7]

See if you can buy Saltstick or vitassium pills there. Saltstick are common at running/biking stores.

[u/tommangan7 → u/stiina22]

You can but they are quite expensive when priced out per dose. Struggle to find a reputable UK brand of salt tablet myself, but I struggle to swallow tablets (and have enough I take daily already) so would prefer to drink it if possible. Appreciate the suggestion through.

[u/Brave_Question3840]

SALTT has no citric acid whatsoever and its fantastic.
I have GERD so no citric acid is needed

[u/SubstantialBid4386]

Yeah I used to love beer and super hot wings and noticed my bladder did not love this combo.

[u/molo59]

I’ve been through the same thing 🙃

[u/peaceful_pinecone → u/molo59]

Not a fun time that’s for sure 😅

[u/leebabyok]

I hadn’t put the bladder issues and citric acid together before I read your post. I have pots dysautonomia heds and mcas (and more) I was having horrible bladder pain and not being able to hold my urine at times but since I’ve quit citric acid (and most foods) and on meds for mcas I don’t have that bladder pain and urinary issues now. I also used Redmond Relyte and still use their salt capsules since they’re just plain salt.

[u/Nervous-Bus5183]

I've been upset by the sourness of my electrolyte drinks since I had to start taking them on the daily. Where do you find unflavored ones??

[u/Infinite-Cause1908 → u/Nervous-Bus5183]

I make my own using fruit and salt since that’s what my dietitian recommended but I also add other stuff to it because I didn’t like the flavor and I’ve already lost weight in my A1c and I’m feeling better so it seems to be working for me at least

[u/Successful_Kitchen32]

I’m confused about salt for hPOTS. I hear take quite a bit…then not too much. What gives!

[u/ReplyJazzlike34]

I can’t do the acid, it kicks up my gerd. I switched over to Salud, and the problems have mostly stopped.

[u/PlanetoftheApiaries]

Have you looked into MCAS before? People with MCAS generally cannot tolerate citric acid, or anything citrus related. LMNT does make a RAW electrolyte powder that doesn't have any citric acid in it. So that could be an option.

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